Avatar: The Last Airbender: Lake Laogai

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Aang and his friends continue to search for Appa and, unbeknown to them, they aren't the only ones looking for him. During their search, the kid's meet up with Jet, whom they are understandably reluctant to trust. The kids soon realize that the Dai Li are doing their best to thwart the kids efforts to find Appa. Meanwhile, Uncle Iroh is offered his own tea shop in the upper ring, and Zuko discovers the avatar is in the city. Read full recap »

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Writers:: Tim Hedrick

Director:: Lauren MacMullan

Stars:: Zach Tyler Eisen (Aang); Jessie Flower (Toph); Dante Basco (Prince Zuko); Mae Whitman (Katara); Dee Bradley Baker (Appa/Momo/Various Others); Jack DeSena (Sokka); Mako (Uncle Iroh)

Recurring Role:: Clancy Brown (Long Feng)

Guest Star:: Nika Frost (Smellerbee); Marc Donato (Longshot); Lauren Tom (Joo Dee); George Kee Cheung (Pao); Kurt Fuller (Quon); Crawford Wilson (Jet)

While Katara explains what has happened to everyone inside of Jet's house, Smellerbee's upper lip is white. edit »
What happened to Smeller Bee and Long Shot after Jet's death is never revealed. Since the only freedom fighters we see after this episode are Pipsqueak and the Duke, who knows what happened to them. edit »
In this episode, Jet has a flashback of Long Feng arresting him during the day and bring him to Lake Laogai. However, in City of Walls and Secrets Jet was arrested at night, and Long Feng wasn't bringing him down to Lake Laogai, because he was at the Earth King's party. And Long Feng didn't bring him down to Lake Laogai the next day, because Jet was already being Brain Washed that night. edit »
When Aang is angry towards Joo Dee, you can see his face turns red and a sign of a face fault (veins into a cross shape). edit »
This is the first episode where we see someone seriously injured or killed by a bending move. Other references would be Zuko's scar, Katara and Sokka's mother, Jet's parents, the Air Nomads, and anyone else who got in the fire nation's way. edit »

Jet was confirmed dead by the creators. edit »
This episode is available in the Avatar Book 2: Earth, Volume 4 DVD, along with, Appa's Lost Days, The Earth King, The Guru, and The Crossroads of Destiny. edit »
Character Debuts: Quon edit »
Ironically, "Laogai" is a term for prison in Chinese, which makes the name, Lake Laogai, "Prison Lake". edit »
According to Nick.com, Old Sweepy is a spy for the Dai Li and helps keep order among the people by spreading rumors. edit »

Iroh: You did the right thing nephew. (Zuko looks at the Blue Spirit Mask) Leave it behind. Zuko drops the mask into the lake and it slowly sinks to the bottom) edit »
Aang: (Momo flies down to Aang) What is it Momo? (Momo flies up to the sky and then comes down on Appa) Appa!
Long Feng: I can still handle you by myself. (Long Feng attacks Appa, but Appa bites Long Feng and throws him in the lake.)
(Aang, Katara, Sokka, and Toph excited to see Appa again.)
Aang: I missed you buddy. edit »
Long Feng: (refering to Jet) Foolish boy. You've chosen your own demise. edit »
Katara: (To Jet) You're lying!
Toph: He's not lying.
Sokka: How can you tell?
Toph: I can feel his breathing and heartbeat. When people lie, there's a physical reaction. He's telling the truth. edit »
Jet: I think there might be a cell big enough to hold Appa up ahead. (stops before a sealed stone door) I think it's through here. (doorway slides opens)
Zuko: Expecting someone else? edit »

Lake Laogai may be another allusion to George Orwell's 1984. Lake Laogai is where the Dai Li brainwashes people and takes prisoners, very similar to the way the Thought Police took people to the Ministry of Love to punish them for speaking out, and to brainwash them into loving Big Brother. edit »
Quon's name appears to be a spelling variant of the Mandarin word, "kuan," which translates to "funds." The name coincides with the merchant's wealthy persona as well as his proposal to fund Iroh's tea shop. edit »
When Long Feng regains control of the hypnotized victims, the pupils become supernaturally enlarged. Like almost any brainwashed victim, their eyes can tell the viewers that they are being mind-controlled. Specifically, the technique used here is exclusive to Japanese anime due to its attention to detail on the eyes. edit »
The concept of a secret lair beneath a lake and even some of the scenes in the tunnels are vaguely similar to X2: X-Men United and its Alkali Lake. The method of Katara using her bending to help Jet retrieve his memories also resembled the way Jean Gray used her abilities to help Nightcrawler remember the location of lake in the movie. edit »
The Dai Li agents are first encountered hanging upside-down from chains in the ceiling. This is similar to how the Guardians in Kurosowa's Samurai 7 are first introduced in the anime. edit »

9.5
00
Dontogan
member since: Sep 2, 2008
Lake Laogai
The Bottom Line: "Exactly why I watch this series"
An excellent episode that is interesting throughout, with the character development, action, and the encounter of a past character. ...Continue »
The episode revolves around finding Appa, who was said to be in Ba Sing Se. The plot for this episode is interesting. You want to pay attention to the entire episode, and it's nice to see more of Jet. You realize he's been brainwashed, and the characters try to awaken memories of where they held him. Aang and group know this is where they could have taken Appa.

At the same time, Zuko wants to get back to hunting the Avatar, knowing he is missing his bison and that it is in the city, but Iroh wants him to live the life they have secured for their selves now, instead of throwing it all away. Zuko doesn't want that, and decides to hunt for Appa first.

Jet, Aang, the group, and Zuko all end up at Lake Laogai, with the intent of finding Appa. The action that happens during this time is varied and pretty good. Seeing the interaction between Katara and Jet is a nice touch as well, if you have watched the season one episode including them both. It's also sad to see what happens to Jet, with what Toph mentions after they leave that you know what's going to happen to him.

On the other side, you have Zuko, who after finding Appa, is caught by Iroh. This episode shows how confused Zuko really is. He is confused about what he actually wants from life, what his destiny is, and who he really is. But in the end, Zuko makes a change and releases Appa from his chains. Really, this episode is simply excellent.
10/01/08 04:36pm | report abuse
9.7
00
lordozai890
member since: Aug 15, 2008
Lake Laogai
The Bottom Line: "Conclusion"
Great episode. ...Continue »
This is exactly what I look for when I want to see an episode. When Long Feng hit Jet with the rock I thought Jet was dead. I still think he is. When Aang and the others found Appa, I almost cried when I saw him. This wasn't an very action episode except Aang VS Controlled Jet and Long Feng. That was a great fight. It was more like a mysterious episode than an action episode. When Katara kept on saying to Jet "if you go like that again" or something like that, I kept laughing. Overall I give this a 9.7.
08/18/08 05:23pm | report abuse
10
00
Lunacy9
member since: Jul 21, 2008
Lake Laogai
The Bottom Line: "Tearjerker"
Excluding the finale, this is probably my favorite episode. If I had been a lesser man I would have cried. ...Continue »
With the return of Appa and another view of the blue spirit (who I think is really cool and should come back again), this episode is awesome. The whole gang is in it which is good because I think the ones with everyone included are the best. The scene right after Zuko frees Appa where Iroh shows up and talks to him about his destiny, in my opinion, is the best moment in the entire series. It's sort of the begining where Zuko starts to see whats right. And Jet dies, to make this episode even more memorable and meaningful. The Dai Lee are an important part in this episode. And at the end Appa and Aang are reunited to make a happy ending, and Zuko gives away the Blue Spirit.
07/23/08 06:32pm | report abuse
10
00
mark426
member since: Jun 23, 2008
Lake Laogai
The Bottom Line: "A very special episode"
The return of two characters: Appa and Jet. ...Continue »
This was a very great episode. Aang and the Gaang are out, putting up wanted posters of Appa, when Jet comes up to Katara. Needless to say, Jet got seriously pwned, because Katara's still mad at Jet from the season 1 episode, Jet. However, Jet, who was brainwashed by the Dai Li, convinces the Gaang(minus Katara)that he wants to help look for Appa. With some help from Smellerbee, Toph and Sokka figure out that the Dai Li brainwashed Jet. Katara uses her healing abilities to help Jet remember where the Dai Li brainwashed him, which turns out to be underneath Lake Laogai.

Meanwhile, Zuko and Iroh are already under Lake Laiogai, where Zuko finds Appa. Iroh finds out that Zuko is the Blue Spirit. Iroh then convinces Zuko to not hurt Appa, in hopes the two can just live peacefully in Ba Sing Se.

The Gaang, Jet, Smellerbee, and Longshot go underneath Lake Laiogai, where they find the secret of the multiple Joo Dee's: Large groups of them are brainwashed at a time. The Gaang finds Long Feng and the Dai Li, and they battle. While battling, Long Feng brainwashes Jet again into attacking Aang. After Aang tells Jet to look inside his heart, the brainwashing's spell is broken, and Jet attacks Long Feng. However, he Earthbends some rock at Jet. Long Feng escapes, and although not shown, Jet sadly dies.

Above ground, the Gaang have another battle with Long Feng and the Dai Li. When things look bleak for the Gaang, Momo flies off and gets Appa. Appa easily throws Long Feng into the water, probably killing him. The Gaang wins the fight with the Dai Li. Now, with the Dai Li defeated, Long Feng killed, and the Gaang re-united with Appa, things are starting to look up for the Gaang.
07/09/08 11:05pm | report abuse
9.6
00
Breaker94
member since: Apr 27, 2008
Lake Laogai
The Bottom Line: "A very special episode"
the gaang see appa again! ...Continue »
woot i am almost done with season 2 first this episode review, which is episode 17, lake laogai. then the next episode review, which is episode 18,the earth king. then the episode after that which is episode 19, crossroads of destiny part 1 and then finally the episode after 19 which is * drum roll * episode 20 ! crossroads of destiny part 2. the only thing is i dont know what to write for any of them. i was planning on writing on another show episode by episode but i dont think i should do it btw im now done
07/09/08 03:09pm | report abuse